2014 Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone Rose 750 mL

2015 Liana Estates Vintner's Pink 750 mL Wine

Manufacturer: Liana Estates Winery
Brand: Liana Estates

The 2015 vintage in Carneros Napa Valley saw early budbreak, giving way to a cool spring and event, steady growing season. Known for its fierce and persistent winds coming off San Pablo Bay, Carneros grape vines struggle to find nutrients and retain moisture. Through this struggle, their flavors become concentrated and gain complexity. Due to the enduring California drought, the 2015 vintage saw crop yields down by 15%, each vine producing less but more flavorful fruit than seen in recent years. The result is 2015 wines that showcase a unique depth of flavor, richness and complexity.

2013 happened to be one of the warmest vintages on record. Historical weather data show it to be one of the warmest heat accumulation years on record, especially early accumulation of heat. As a result we started harvesting grapes for the vintage before Labor Day, which in 2013 fell on September 2nd. For only the second time since I started making wine in Washington, we picked grapes in August to get things started. One of the more unusual factors that influenced the vintage was how much heat was accumulated early in the vintage. By September 1st the amount of heat accumulated over the summer was significantly higher than any vintage I had seen previously in my 26 years. As a result, nearly everything was ready prior to October 1st. The final heat accumulation numbers ended up being lower than 2003 in total but the way in which we got the heat was very unusual. Many reviews of the vintage talk about early ripening and then a cooling period before other varieties got ripe.